Page 57 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

“No,” I gasp. “No, you don’t get to speak to me!” In a blind panic, I reach for my switchblade, shoved in my bag for some reason and not on me. Scrabbling around like a maniac, I feel the heavy metal against my palm and drag it out. I flick the blade out and before anyone can even think to stop me, I shove the fingers of my other hand into Scott’s mouth, gripping his tongue with my sharp nails, making him groan with pain. I pull it out of his mouth and hold the blade up.

“You don’t get to speak to me,” I repeat and slice the knife across the top of his tongue, deep and bloody as he writhes to get away from me. I start to saw it off, wishing I had a pair of scissors handy because this action, which seemed so badass a moment ago, is kind of hard work.

“Ruby,” Cillian says, his tone bordering on a guffaw.

Not that I’d blame him.

This is ridiculous, but it has cleared my head. The impending panic attack has abated with the sheer absurdity of what I’m doing.

“Here,” he adds and holds up his beautiful black knife.

My eyes flash and my mouth waters as I don’t even hesitate to take it from him. It slices through Scott’s tongue like a hot knife through butter, while Declan holds him, mutely screaming in place. The thrill, the danger, the darkness washes over me, cleansing me at the same time as filthening my soul that bit more.

“Daddy,” I murmur softly. “I need you.”

“I know, Ruby,” he replies, his eyes dead cold, but his words sounding warm to my ears. “I do know. But let me take care of this for you.”

I step back, the tip of Scott’s tongue in my bloody, messy hand, Cillian’s blade in the other. “I want to watch.”

Declan doesn’t reply, he just shoves past me, Scott hobbling next to him, his mouth pouring with blood, tears falling out of his eyes.

I don’t feel a single thing for him except pity.

He messed with the wrong woman, who has the right men at her back.

This will be a lesson for others who try to come at me.

Closing the door behind all of the men, part of me kind of hopes they’ll try.

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